Pages

Wednesday, 2 December 2015

Wild Bird Wednesday 175 - Red-Tailed Tropicbird

The Red-Tailed Tropicbird was the bird I was most looking forward to seeing on my recent trip to Lord Howe Island. This magnificent bird is used a great deal in the publicity shots for the island, so I was keen to see one (or more) for myself.

I saw some of these birds on the second day I was there, during my climb up Mount Gower. I think I was the only person in that group who became excited at the sight of these birds, which may be explained by the fact that the walk itself was pretty tough!

I got much better views later in the week, and I was once more very pleased to be in the digital age of photography. Photographing moving, almost pure white birds against a bright blue sky was a bit of a challenge - and I got better results from my second set of efforts than the first!

I got great views of these birds doing their courtship flights where they circle around each other in the air. I was also pointed in the direction of a bird that was nesting on the ground. While this bird was determinedly hidden in bush, I was surprised at how big they were.

The bird has a rather short tail apart from the long red tail streamers that give the bird its common name. This means the birds look a bit stubby in flight. Their tendency to use their outstretched feet as air brakes also add a somewhat inelegant look to these birds - but they are wonderful to watch.

Their formal name - Phaethon rubricauda - means 'red-tailed shiner' and in bright light they live up to that name.

This post is a bit image heavy - they really are wonderful birds. If I saw one bird that made the trip to LHI worth while it was this bird - and I saw many more as well!

I think you may get a better view of the pictures by clicking on one and having a look at them as a 'gallery.

Hi Stewart, your post was never too image heavy for me. I did click on the photos and view them in the gallery. *sigh* too beautiful, the birds and your photography. Thank you for sharing and also for hosting this meme. It keeps me on my toes, even if I only post common "ole" birds these days from South Africa. LOL! I'll link up tomorrow: Wednesday. Greetings Jo

Great in-flight photos. I saw several of these birds nesting on the ground when I visited Lady Eliot Island a couple of years ago. They did not seem at all disturbed by people watching them - maybe because all the birds know that the whole island is a sanctuary.

I have to agree, what a unique and beautiful bird. Angelic almost were it not for it's big feet and that almost wicked looking streamer ... reminds me of the Stingray and how one killed Steve Irwin ... sorry, I digress :( Anyway a close up of the red streamers is quite beautiful. You are forever finding wonderful birds to share with us ... have to admit, this one lands near the top of the list. I am beginning to understand why Lord Howe Island drew you to it ... very exciting even when observing from a distance :)

Nice work Stewart. Lovely bird and when you have the excitement of hoping to see one (or more) when planning a trip gives a real thrill when it comes off. Its always better when you get the shots to remember them by......

Wow; how wonderful to know this lovely bird with red tail♪ Must have been really exciting.I hope I will have more birds linking for you, Thank you SO much for hosting.Sincerely from Japan, xoxo Miyako*